Anti-siphoning device



Dec. 1, 1936. T. H. JONES ANTISIPHONING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1936 INVENTOR. Tet/MAN h. .fo/vss BY 15m M 9, W

ATTORNEYS' m control elementstherein in the event of an inter-- Patented Dec. 1, 1936 ANTI-'SVIPHONING DEVICE,

Truman I-I. JonesyLo'uisv'ille, Ky.,- assignor to Hoffman Gas- &- Electric Heater Company, Louisville, Ky.,- a corporation of Delaware Application January 14, 193fi, S erial 1&0. 59,085

6 Claims. (oi. 137-21);

v This invention relates to improvements in antisiphoning devices, and has reference particularly to means for preventing the siphoning of water from the storage tank of a water heater of the usual domestic type.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of means of this character adapted to prevent damage to the tank and the heating and ruption of pressure in the water line accompanied by leaky or open faucets above and below the tank. Such a condition would result ordinarily, in siphoning the water out of the tank, where-,

, upon the thermostatic control, which is now generally apart of such heaters, would set the heating element in operation, and in the absence of water in the tank the thermostat might not act to turn ofi the heat in time to prevent damage.

Another object is the provision of an' antisiphoning device of this character which maybe readily assembled upon the tank without changing the usual internal construction thereof, and which shall be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a water heater embodying the invention, parts being broken away in order to more fully illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the joint member which is attached to the tank near the upper end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the joint member, and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same.

In the drawing, I have illustrated at Hl a,

Water tank of more or less conventional form. The heating elements for the tank are not illusstrated, and may be of any suitable character. Near the bottom of the tank there is a cold water intake element II, which is preferably what is known in the art as a difiuser tube, that is a pipe with a multiplicity of small holes mostly in its under side, so that when water flows from the pipe into the tank it causes a minimum of disturbance or commotion and has little tendency to mix with the hot water in the upper portion of the tank.

This intake element ll projects through the wall of the tank into the space surrounding the tank, which space is in turn surrounded by an outer shell l2. Heat insulation, such for instance asgranulated cork, may bepacked into the space between the tank and shellin order to conserve heat. It will be' understood'that a water-tight joint is formed between the element I I and the wall of the tank H1. Outside of the tank the element ll carries an elbow l3 which may be either integral with or threadeduponthe element H,

place before the tank is assembled in the shell l2.

The pipe l4 extends upwardly nearly to the top of the tank, where'it' connects withone of the arms of a three-armed joint member l5 which may take the form of a T approximately. One arm it of this'member is threaded; so ast'o" be received in a threaded opening formed in 'ajboss' ll on the tank. The extremity of this 'arm' is;

provided with a small air vent l8, which is in communication with the "interior of the tank. A,

tiny stream of water may enter the tank through this vent whenever water is drawn from the hot wateroutlet 'of-the tank, but saene str am is too small to be" of any consequencef A second arm I9 is turned downwardly and isthreaded to receive a nut 20, by means of which a tight connection is made with pipe I l. The third arm 2| when the joint is in place extends outwardly into or through an opening 22 formed in the shell l2, and is adapted to receive a nut 23 by means of which connection is made with the incoming cold water pipe 24. If desired the joint member I5 may be provided interiorly with a baffle plate 25 extending part-way out into the arm It. The hot water delivery pipe of the tank is indicated at 26.

While the location of the vertical pipe I4 within the shell 12 is preferred from the standpoint of appearance, it will be understood that it is quite within the purview of the invention to place this pipe exteriorly of the shell, in which event the form of the joint member I5 would necessarily be different from that shown. It will also be understood that the connections between the pipes l4 and 24 may be made, if desired, by the use of standard fittings instead of by a joint member of special design, Whether or not the pipe I4 is contained within the shell l2. Furthermore, within the broader aspects of the invention the form of the joint member may be varied more or less, and that part of the joint or connection which includes the vent may enter the tank through the top wall thereof instead of through the side wall.

During the ordinary operation of the heater the joint member of this invention performs no This elbow is turned "upwardly toreceive an upstanding pipe M, which is mounted in.

useful function. However, in case there is a break in the water main, or for some other reason the water pressure is cut off, a condition may arise such that there will be a tendency to siphon the water out of the tank. This might happen for instance if the water tank were installed in a room on the first floor of a. house, and a faucet in the basement were open or leaking. Water could then drain out of the tank through the basement faucet if a siphoning action were maintained, and if there were sufficient leak in a hot water faucet above the tank to permit air to enter and pass through the line into the upper part of the tank. With my antisiphoning device however, water would be drained out of the tank only down to the level of the vent I 8, whereupon air would flow out of the tank into the joint member I5, breaking the siphon. The major part of the tank would therefore remain filled with water, and no damage from the heat applied automatically could result.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A cold water connection for water heaters, comprising a hollow threaded portion adapted to be mounted in a wall of a tank, a threaded portion adapted to be connected with an incoming water pipe, .and a threaded portion adapted to be connected with a downwardly extending pipe leading to the water intake element of the tank,

the first named portion of said connection being closed except for a restricted air vent adapted to communicate with the interior of the tank.

. 2. A cold water'connection for water heaters, comprising a three-armed joint member, one of said arms being adapted to be mounted in an opening in the tank, and the other two arms being threaded for connection with an incoming cold water pipe and a downwardly extending pipe leading to the water intake element of the tank,

' said first arm being closed except for a restricted air vent therein adapted to establish communication between the interior of the joint member and the interior of the tank.

3. In a water heater, a tank, a water diifuser at the bottom of the tank, a pipe extending upwardly therefrom, and a joint member at the upper end of said pipe for attachment to an incoming water conductor, said joint member being connected with the interior of the tank solely through an air vent of restricted size.

4. In a water heater, a tank, a water intake element at the bottom of the tank projecting outwardly through the same, a pipe extending upwardly therefrom outside the tank, and a joint member at the upper end of said pipe for attachment to an incoming water conductor, and means for connecting said joint member with the interior of the tank solely through a vent of restricted size.

5. In a water heater, a tank, a water intake element at the bottom of the tank projecting outwardly through the same, a pipe extending upwardly therefrom outside the tank, and a joint member at the upper end of said pipe for attachment to an incoming water conductor, said joint member having an extension set into the tank, and said extension being closed except for an air vent of restricted size communicating with the interior of the tank.

6. In a water heater, a tank, a shell surrounding the tank and spaced therefrom, a water intake element at the bottom of the tank projecting outwardly from the tank into the space between the tank and. said shell, a three-armed joint member, one arm thereof being mounted in the wall of the tank near the upper end thereof and having an air vent of restricted size forming the sole communication with the interior of the tank, a second arm extending downwardly between the tank and the shell, a pipe connecting said second arm with the said water intake element, and a third arm extending into an opening in the shell and adapted to be connected with an incoming cold water pipe.

TRUMAN H. JONES. 

